The directive was issued after its minister Yusof Yacob and Sabah Education deputy director Mohd Kassim Mohd Ibrahim visited the school today and met the school’s principal, Mary Gambidau.

Yusof, at a press conference after the meeting, said the school management’s move to segregate the Form One students based on their religion must stop immediately.

He considered the issue resolved with the school principal acknowledging her mistake in implementing the move without taking into account other issues.

“This issue is small and we have resolved it by taking into account that the strength of our unity lies on the harmonious aspect of our lives, without being separated by racial and religious differences.”

Earlier this month, parents had submitted a petition to the education ministry regarding the segregation issue involving Form One students.

In the petition, the parents claimed that in January, the school principal had segregated the Form One students according to their religion – four classes for non-Muslim students and two classes for Muslim students.

This arrangement was supposed to be in place for the next three years.

Under the old system, used for Form Two to Five students, there were six mixed classes.

During the Moral Education or Islamic Education periods, students would enter the class according to the subject taken.

Asked if any action would be taken against the principal, Yusof said no action would be taken as the issue had been resolved amicably.

He called on parents of Form One students at the school to stop worrying as his ministry and the federal education ministry were concerned about this and would seek solutions whenever such problems cropped up.

He said what was important now was strengthening the harmonious relationship among students and staff in the school.